My Father Is the Number One Under Heaven - Chapter 83

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 83. Gu Wangpyo

“Clan Patriarch. He should be arriving soon.”

At Ha Doyoung’s words, Peng Mugang, the Clan Patriarch of the Peng Family, looked up from what he had been reading, his face brightening.

“Ah, is that so? He’s finally coming. Ha ha.”
“Yes. The Deputy Commander of the Baek Mu Division has gone to greet him.”
“Good. He’s had such a difficult time filling that vacancy all this while—he must be more relieved than anyone. Tsk tsk.”
“In any case, I feel reassured now that Elder Gu is returning.”
“Indeed. Indeed. Ha ha! I feel the same way.”

Peng Mugang gazed out the window with a pleased smile.

“So it is. Time has passed so quickly already. Ha ha.”

***
“Welcome back.”
Nak Seokdo, the Deputy Commander of the Baek Mu Division, bowed respectfully to the man who stood before him.
“Yes, I’ve been well. And you?”
The one receiving his bow was a middle-aged man.
With a frame considerably larger than that of an ordinary person, he emanated an aura at first glance that was far from unremarkable.
Yet something unexpected bloomed at the corner of Nak Seokdo’s mouth as he beheld this man—one whose presence would normally leave any ordinary person rigid with unease.
It was a rare expression for the taciturn man who always quietly went about his assigned duties.
“With you away, I’ve had nothing but good fortune lately.”
“Ha ha ha! I’m sorry about that. But you know I wasn’t the one who decided to rest—the Clan Patriarch practically forced me out the door. If you’re going to blame anyone, blame him.”
“I don’t have the nerve for that. In any case, let’s go. He’s waiting.”
“Right.”

The large man followed Nak Seokdo’s guidance into the Peng Family residence.
The moment he stepped into the Family Head’s Chamber, his voice rang out clear and strong.

“Clan Patriarch! I hope you’ve been in excellent health all this time. I, Gu Wangpyo, thanks to your kindness, have been playing and eating my fill during my leave, and now I’ve returned.”
“Ha ha ha! You’re finally back.”

Peng Mugang greeted Gu Wangpyo with undisguised delight, laughing heartily.
This was Gu Wangpyo, one of the elders of the Hebei Peng Clan and the Commander of the Baek Mu Division.

“Tell me, how was your leave? Did you enjoy it?”
“Yes! I ate plenty of delicious things, saw many fine sights, and did things I’d never been able to do in my whole life. Most of all, my wife was thrilled. I finally got to be a proper husband. Ha ha!”
“Don’t you ever forget that all of that is thanks to me.”
“Of course not. My wife keeps thanking you every time she eats something good or sees something nice—so much so that I’ve had to scold her and tell her to stop. Tsk tsk.”
“What’s this? Ha ha ha!”

Peng Mugang burst into hearty laughter.
Gu Wangpyo joined in, laughing alongside him.
As their laughter subsided, Peng Mugang gazed at Gu Wangpyo with a smile still lingering on his face.

“So tell me—how is your body now? Are you feeling better?”
“My body is always fine. It was fine then, and it’s fine now. I was only resting because the Clan Patriarch ordered me to.”

Gu Wangpyo tapped his rock-solid muscles confidently as he spoke, and Peng Mugang clicked his tongue in response.

“You’re not telling me what I saw. Back then, you were drowning in exhaustion—you wouldn’t have been out of place collapsing on the spot. And it wasn’t just me thinking so, either. The other elders came to me asking why I didn’t let you rest, all of them saying the same thing with one voice.”
“Come now, look at this frame of mine. Do you really think something like fatigue would bring down a physique like this? You’re worrying too much.”
“We’re not young anymore, you stubborn man. What, do you think you’re still in your prime?”
“I’m still in my prime.”
“There’s no one as pigheaded and uncooperative as you. Tsk!”
“Ha ha. That can’t be right. I still do my duties well, don’t I?”
“Except for taking care of your own health.”
“Ha. Does the conversation always have to go that way?”

Ha Doyoung managed the household affairs of the Peng Family, while Gu Wangpyo oversaw external matters.
His role in the Peng Family was as crucial as anyone’s could be.
Granting him half a year of leave was, for Peng Mugang, no small decision.
Such was the measure of esteem in which Peng Mugang held Gu Wangpyo.
Soon enough, Gu Wangpyo’s expression grew serious.

“Still, there’s been quite a lot happening while I’ve been away.”
“Hmm, there has. Especially of late.”
“But above all else, Peng Seoyeon’s return—that’s turned out wonderfully, hasn’t it?”

When Gu Wangpyo flashed a knowing smile, Peng Mugang answered as though to say he shouldn’t speak nonsense.

“Bah. I’m not quite sure it’s gone well or poorly.”
“How can you say that, sir? I myself witnessed with these two eyes how you’d visit Peng Seoyeon’s room day after day and weep. That sorrowful figure of yours from behind—I couldn’t bring myself to speak a word…….”
“Ahem! I haven’t the faintest idea what you’re talking about.”
“Surely you do. I most certainly saw it with my own eyes…….”
“Now, now, enough of that talk. You seem to live for the pleasure of needling me.”
“Ha ha! How could that be? I should think my loyalty to you, sir, is second to none in the Peng Family.”

And it was true.
Gu Wangpyo’s devotion to Peng Mugang ran so deep he would leap into the abyss itself if commanded.
Peng Mugang knew this truth better than anyone.
And his own feelings toward Gu Wangpyo were no different.
Gu Wangpyo was his right hand, the man he trusted above all others.
He confided worries to Gu Wangpyo that he shared with no one else.

“Still, the matter of the Baek Lang Division—that truly surprised me.”

He had heard various reports about the Peng Family through Nak Seokdo even during his leave.
Not so long ago, the Peng Family had been free of any particular troubles.
But recently, the family had undergone much change and faced considerable trials.
Even to Gu Wangpyo, hearing these tidings from afar, it was remarkable.
And among them all, the matter of the Baek Lang Division was most striking.

“It seems your son-in-law is performing better than expected. You surely meant to give him a hard time, yet your feelings must be quite complicated?”

He knew Peng Mugang’s heart better than anyone.
Why Peng Mugang had entrusted the command of the Baek Lang Division to Yeo Unhwi—a man ignorant of Martial Arts—Gu Wangpyo could almost guess without being told.
It was surely meant to humiliate him.
But from what Gu Wangpyo had heard, the Baek Lang Division’s accomplishments had begun precisely after Yeo Unhwi took command.
How a man who knew nothing of Martial Arts had managed to whip those stubborn, foul-mouthed brutes into shape remained a mystery, but it was undeniably impressive.
Perhaps Gu Wangpyo had been the most astonished of all.
After all, it was he who had rushed about tidying up the Baek Lang Division’s messes.
The previous commander had stepped down and descended into dissolution—or so he had thought. It was truly remarkable.
“In any case, I should be on my way and attend to the work that’s piled up.”
“What’s the rush? You’ve only just returned—don’t overdo it.”
“Yes, yes. Of course. I’ll heed your words, sir.”
…….

From the way he answered, he clearly had no intention of obeying.

‘Well, after all that forced rest, his body must be itching for work.’

He wasn’t about to create trouble or cause a commotion—only to apply himself diligently. What more could be said?
In any case, Peng Mugang had a premonition that with Gu Wangpyo’s return, the Peng Family would grow lively once more.

***

“Welcome back.”

Nak Seokdo, the deputy commander of the Baek Mu Division, was waiting for Gu Wangpyo as he emerged from the Family Head’s Chamber.

“What did he say?”
“Oh, the usual—take care of yourself, you’re not as young as you used to be, that sort of thing.”
“The Patriarch cares for you deeply.”
“I’m grateful, truly, but he coddles me so much I feel like my skin’s crawling. That’s the real problem, isn’t it?”
“I understand completely. Thanks to his concern, I’ve been running myself ragged.”
“Ha! You’re telling me. Anyway, before I head back to my quarters, there’s somewhere I’d like to stop by first.”

At Gu Wangpyo’s words, Nak Seokdo broke into a knowing smile.

“Yes, sir. I already know where you’d like to go. I had a feeling you’d be curious, so I made some inquiries ahead of time.”
“Ha! Well done. Then let’s head over there.”

Just as Gu Wangpyo and Nak Seokdo were about to move, someone called out.

“Uncle!”

From some distance away, a figure spotted Gu Wangpyo and rushed toward him in a single bound.
Even from afar, she gleamed—a woman of radiant beauty.
A smile bloomed across Gu Wangpyo’s face.
His eyes held the warmth of a father gazing upon his daughter.
It was Peng Seoyeon.

“It’s been too long! How have you been?”
“I’ve been well, thank you. Are you doing alright? I heard you’d taken medical leave, so I was worried.”
“Medical leave? Nonsense. The Patriarch forced me to rest, whether I liked it or not. I’m perfectly fine.”
“I can see right through you. You overexerted yourself and insisted you were fine, and then Father had to actually order you to rest. Still, I’m relieved to see you looking so healthy again.”
At Peng Seoyeon’s pouting protest, Gu Wangpyo burst into hearty laughter.
“But you—even when you left the house, you could have sent me word. Not a peep since then.”
“Ah, I’m sorry, Uncle.”
“It’s alright, it’s alright. I’m just glad we’ve met again like this.”

Gu Wangpyo was someone who had watched Peng Seoyeon since her birth, and she regarded him as an uncle. Peng Sejin felt the same way.
Because of his hearty and gentle nature, she often felt more at ease with him than with her own father, Peng Mugang.
So when Peng Seoyeon had recently returned to the Peng Family and heard that Gu Wangpyo had fallen ill and would rest for a while, she had worried considerably.
But when word came that he was returning to duty today, she had rushed over immediately—and to see him looking so vigorous filled her with nothing but joy.
He looked exactly as he had the day she’d left the Peng Family.
Gu Wangpyo, for his part, cherished Peng Seoyeon and Peng Sejin as if they were his own children.
That affection shone plainly in his eyes.
Behind him, Nak Seokdo watched this scene with warm approval.

“So, now that you’re back, how are you getting on with your filial duties?”
“Ah, that’s… quite difficult.”

At Gu Wangpyo’s question, Peng Seoyeon shook her head and let out a deep sigh.
Seeing her thus, Gu Wangpyo laughed knowingly.

“That’s understandable. Your father can be a bit stubborn, can’t he?”
“Exactly! It’s such a relief to hear you say that. Honestly, only you would dare speak so freely.”
“Of course! Ha!”

Who else would dare voice such words about Peng Mugang’s temperament?
Even if ordered to say he was perfectly amiable, most would shake their heads and tremble in fear.
Peng Seoyeon herself was far from confident in that regard.
Likely only her mother, Dan Heeyoung, and Gu Wangpyo possessed such liberty in the Peng Family.

“Oh, but where were you headed when I stopped you? I hope I haven’t gotten in your way?”
“Ha! No, no, it’s fine. Actually, I was thinking of going to see them myself, just out of curiosity.”
“See whom?”

Gu Wangpyo smiled as he answered Peng Seoyeon’s curious question.

“The Baek Lang Division.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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